MENDON, NY- Rochester sophomore Dominick Schumacher sank a birdie putt on the first extra hole and watched his opponent miss a birdie chance, giving the University of Rochester men's golf team a dramatic 3-1 victory over defending league champion Skidmore College in the Liberty League Match Play Championships on Sunday afternoon at Mendon Golf Club.
The victory earns the Yellowjackets a berth into the NCAA Division III National Championships and second overall Liberty League title. Skidmore finishes second after winning the last six Liberty League championships.
The Thoroughbreds are now in danger of missing the NCAA Division III tournanment for the first time in 27 years. The tournament field will be announced on April 30.
Schumacher showed grit in winning his match on the first extra hole after his opponent, Skidmore's Tim Manwaring battled to force extras by winning the last three holes of the regulation match.
That trend seemed to follow the players as UR looked to be cruising to the title late in the round. At that point, Rochester was ahead 1-0 already on senior Nick Palladino's 6&5 win. Fellow senior Will Mallia was the 2 up with two to play, while Schumacher was 3 up with three to play. G.W. VanderZwaag was 3 up with five to play, putting Rochester in position to tie a couple holes and win the match easily in regulation.
Skidmore didn't let that happen as the Thoroughbreds stormed back. Mitchell Campbell topped Mallia on the last few holes, forcing extras while Manwaring did the same, needing a chip in on his 17th hole to keep his chances alive. Meanwhile, Skidmore had pulled even on the scoreboard with Makenzie Denver's 2&1 win over UR freshman Matt van Niekerk.
"Skidmore played like champions today," said UR Head Coach Dan Wesley, "they never gave in and fought to the end." "Everyone [on both teams] gave it everything they had today."
Shortly after the Thoroughbreds pulled even, VanderZwaag put Rochester back in the lead after hanging on for a 2&1 win in the fifth position, leaving just the two matches in extra holes on the course.
Mallia and Campbell both bogeyed the 19th and 20th holes of their match and were about to start a 3rd sudden death hole, but Schumacher was behind them earning the 1 up win in 19 holes for the Yellowjackets.
Scores:
1. Mallia (UR) vs. Campbell (SC), unfinished (on 21st hole)
2. Palladino (UR) def. Caro (SC), 6&5
3. Denver (SC) def. van Niekerk (UR), 2&1
4. Schumacher (UR) def. Manwaring (SC), 1 up (19 holes)
5. VanderZwaag (UR) def. Nelson (SC), 2&1
